Station announcer



Oct. 12, 1937. sM

' STATION ANNOUNCER Filed Oct. 5, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Oct. 12, 1937. P. SMITH STATION ANNOUNGER Filed 001:. 5, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wm. m 5 l e m M P Attorneys Filed 001;. 5, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Attorneus Patented Oct. 12, 1937 UNITED STATE i ATENT or ies STATION ANNOUNCER Pauline Smith, Williamson, W. Va. Application October 5, 1936, Serial No. 104,117

2 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for use on trains, electric cars and analogous vehicles for conveyance in apprising thepassengers of the next station or stop; and an object of the present invention is to, generally, improve upon devices of this general character as now known and/or used. The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a'study IQ of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:--

Figure 1 is a vice. 1

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. r 1 Figure 4 is an elevational view of a reflector.

Figure 5 is a wiring. diagram. V

Figure 6 is a side elevational View of a slightly modified form of the invention.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary elevational view taken substantially at right angles to Figure 6.

In carrying the invention into practice there is first provided in a wall or analogous partition 6 of a train coach, electric car or the like, a pair of vertically spaced upper and lower elongated openings 1 and 8 respectively. Over the openings 1 and 8 are placed transparencies 9 and it! respectively. The transparencies 9 and II] which may be of clear or colored glass, as found desirable, are secured in position through the medium of a suitable frame II that in turn is secured to the partition 6 throughthe medium of suitable fastening elements l2.

5 Suitably confined behind the glass 9 is a stencil l3 suitably provided,in the present instance, with the legend This train is approaching.

For illuminating the stencil 13 there are provided behind the stencil I3 a plurality, in the present instance three electric lamp bulbs ii that are arranged in circuit with a battery B and the lamp circuit I4 is provided with a manually operable switch l5.

The lamps M are accommodated in suitable electric sockets l3 suitably mounted on and supported through the medium of an elongated substantially semi-cylindrical reflector I! that has the open, side thereof fitting snugly within the opening I in the partition 6 as shown in Figure Itwill thus be seen that when switch I5 is closed the circuit will be completed through the lamps M for illuminating thesign I3.

Suitably secured within the opening 3 is an elongated frame Hi the upper and lower sides of which merge into angularly disposed i guide front elevational view of the deflanges or platens l9. The platens l9 respectively, at the respective opposite ends thereof are provided with flange through the medium of which and fastening elements 2i the frame i8 is secured in position on the partition 3 and within a housing or casing 22.

The housing or casing 22 is mounted behind the partition 6 and at the side thereof disposed against the partition 6 is provided with a continuous flange through the medium of which and suitable fastening elements 23 the housing 22 is secured in position on the partition.

At the side thereof farthest from the partition the frame I8 is provided with a continuous spring lip 23 and at the junction of the frame it and the lip 23 there is provided a continuous internal groove 24 which receives the beaded edge of a reflector '25 whereby the reflector 25 is removably supported in position rearwardly of the transparency or glass Ill.

Suitably mounted and supported by the reflector 25 are a plurality, in the present instance three electric lamp sockets 26 which accommodate electric lamps 2T. 7

The lamps 21 are also arranged in circuit with the battery B and the circuit for the lamps 2'! is provided with a manually operable control switch 28.

A removable back 29 is suitably provided for the casing 22. Thus access may be had to the casing for purposes desirable.

Suitably journaled in the casing 22 are upper and lower rolls or reels 33, 3f on which are windable the respective opposite ends of a web 32.

The web 32 at intervals is provided with the name of stations or stops along the route of the vehicle as indicated generally at 33. Thus it will be seen that when a legend such as the name of a townor the like 33 on the web 32 is positioned opposite to and directly behind the 7 glass ill and switch 28 is closed, the said section of the web will be illuminated so that the legend thereon will be clearly discernible and visible.

As clearly shown in Figure 2 the reels or rolls 3!], 3! are provided at their respective opposite ends with pintles suitably journaled in the side walls of the casing 22 and the pintles atone end of the rolls or reels 33, 3| are flexed or otherwise provided as indicated generally at 34 to accommodate a handle or crank 35. Thus it will be seen that with the crank 35 engaged with the pintle- 34' of roll or reel the latter may be turned for winding the web 32 on said reel 30 while when the crank is engaged with the pintle 34 of the reel 3| the latter may be turned for winding the web 32 on said reel.

The section of the frame H in which is confined the transparency IB is provided at its respective opposite ends with bulls-eyes 355 behind which are suitable mounted electric lamps 37 also arranged in circuit with the battery B. The circuit for the lamps 37: is provided with a manually operable switch 38. Obviously, when the switch 38 is closed the circuit will be completed through the lamps 31 to provide intermittent illumination at the respective opposite ends at the lower section of frame H, the lamps 3'! when illuminated thus serving as a means for attracting the attention of the passengers of the vehicle to the station announcer. Lamps 31 may be either of the flasher type or fiasher mechanisms may be arranged incircuit with said lamps.

It will be seen that the flanges H] of the frame i8 serve as guide means for the web 32 and serve to maintain the web 32 taut and to facilitate the winding of the web on the selected roll or reel 33, 35.

In actual practice it is contemplated that, for example, five minutes in advance of the time at which the train or vehicle will reach the next station, the conductor or other attendant will adjust the web 32 so that the name of the station or stop now being approached by the train will be brought to view opposite the transparency or glass |0. After this has been accomplished the switches 95, 28 and 38 are closed for illuminating the device with the result that the occupants of the vehicle will have their attention called to the device and through the medium of the device be apprised as to the name of the station or town at which the next stop will be made.

Obviously, on the first trip the web 32 will be wound, for example, on the reel or roller 30 while on the return trip the web 32 will be wound on the reel or roll 3|.

In Figures 5 and 7 there is illustrated a slightly modified form of the invention, and in this form, of the invention instead of having the device manually operated the same may be run from an electric motor such as for example a reversible electric motor indicated generally by the reference numeral 39. Thus in this second form of the invention, which will otherwise be somewhat similar to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, there are suitably mounted adjacent the reels 35, 3| rollers 56 and 4| respectively. Also, in this form of the invention, the rolls or reels 39, 3| are supported between pairs of arms 42 which are pivoted at one end as at 53. Spring devices M suitably anchored at one end as at A5 and connected with the arms 32 as at serve to bias the respective rolls or reels 39, 3| toward the respective rollers (58, 5E so as to maintain the web portions wound on the reels or rolls in frictional contact with the periphery of the rollers 45, H. In this connection it will be noted that preferably the peripheries of the rollers 3, 4| are roughened or otherwise formed to have good friction bearing surface with the web 32.

The rollers 39, 4| are provided at one end with pulleys l, 3? while the armature shaft of the motor 39 is provided with a pulley 38. Trained over the pulley 48 is an endless belt 49 which is adapted to be trained over the pulley 46 of roller 49 when it is desired to wind the web 32 on the roll 30' and over the pulley 4! when it is desired to wind the web 32 on the roll 3|.

The spacing of the legends, that is to say the names of the several towns or stops appearing on the web 32 will be relatively spaced apart a distance corresponding to one-half revolution of a disk 48 mounted, in the present instance, on one end of the shaft of the upper roller 40.

At diametrically opposite points thereon the disk 48 is provided with slots 5!], 5| cooperable with a slidably mounted latch rod 52 suitably mounted as shown in Figure 7 whereby to limit successive rotations of the disk 48 to half revolutions.

A suitable spring device 53 is provided for normally urging one end of the rod 52 into wiping engagement with a side of the disk 48 and to project said end of the rod 52 into a slot 5|], 5| as such slot moves into alignment with said end of the rod 52.

For closing the circuit through the motor 39 there is provided a suitably mounted switch which includes a spring contact 5 and a spring contact 55, the free ends of which contacts are arranged in the path of a fixed collar 56 on the rod 52 as shown in Figure '7.

Thus it will be seen that in this form of the invention when, for example, it is desired to wind the web 32' onto the roll 30' to bring the next station legend on the web 32 opposite the window Hi the operator pulls on the rod 52 against the action of spring 53. This will result in the withdrawal of the end of the rod 52 out of, for example, the slot 50. At the same time collar 56 will engage contact 55 and move the same into engagement with the contact 54 for completing the circuit through the motor 39. Drive will then be transmitted from the motor 39 to the roller and through the roller 40 and web 32' to the roll 30 for winding the web 32' onto the roll 3'. At about the time the proper station legend on the web 32' moves opposite the sight window It slot 5| will have moved into a position of alignment with the rod 52 with the result that the latter in response to the action of spring 53 will be forced through the slot 5| for arresting further movement of the disk 48 and consequently of the web 32.

For bringing each successive station legend on the Web 32' into visible position opposite the window ID the operation just described is repeated.

In connection with the above it will be appreciated that as the rod 52 in response to the action of spring 53 is projected into a slot 50, or 5| as the case may be, contacts 54 and 55 will spread apart thus interrupting the circuit through the motor 39 so that drive from the motor to the roller 40, or 4| as the case may be, will cease and consequently the winding of the web 32' will stop at about the time when the proper legend on the web moves opposite the window I0.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility and advantages of an invention of this character will be had without a more detailed description.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a station-announcer, a partition provided with a pair of spaced upper and lower openings, a casing mounted on the partition opposite said openings and at one side of the partition, a frame mounted on the partition at the side thereof opposite to the casing and having sections bordering the respective openings, transparencies mounted in the sections of the frame and substantially closing the respective openings, a legend-bearing stencil disposed behind the transparency closing the upper opening, upper and lower rollers journaled in the casing, a legend-carrying and display Web arranged to Wind upon'the rollers, for presenting the legends thereon successively opposite the transparency closing the lower one of said openings, and means for rotating either roller to move the Web in one or the other direction, said means including a reversible electric motor, stop means for arresting the rotative movement of the roll when a legend on the webbing moves into position opposite thelower opening, a control switch for said motor, and said stop means including manually operated releasing means for simultaneously actuating said switch to close the latter upon release of the stop means.

2. In a station-announcer, a partitionprovided with a pair of spaced upper and lower openings, a casing mounted on the partition opposite said openings and at one side of the partition, a frame mounted on the partition at the side thereof opposite to the casing and having sections bordering the respective openings, transparencies mounted in the sections of the frame and substantially closing the respective openings, a legend-bearing stencil disposed behind the transparency closing the upper openings, upper and lower rollers journalled in the casing, a legendcarrying and display web arranged to wind upon the rollers, for presenting the legends thereon successively opposite the transparency closing the lower one of said openings, and means for rotating either roller to move the web in one or the other direction, said means including a reversible electric motor, stop means for arresting the rotative movement of the roll when a legend on the Webbing moves into position opposite the lower opening, a control switch for said motor, said stop means including a rotatable disk having openings therein, a manually retractable spring projected plunger operable to enter said openings tosecure the disk against rotation and a projection on the plunger movable into engagement with the switch to close the same upon releasing movement of the plunger,

PAULINE SMITH. 

